RatLabGuy
You look like a monkey and smell like one too
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Location
- Churchville, MD
Ongoing UBO (unidentified balloonish object) news
- Thread starter RatLabGuy
- Start date
paradisePWoffrd
Recovering Project Junkie
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2005
- Location
- Newton, NC
That is assuming they dont already know what is on the balloons. I suspect they know, or are behind them, or they are showing up in the media to distract folks.
RatLabGuy
You look like a monkey and smell like one too
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Location
- Churchville, MD
I just learned that r/UFO is completely flooded with people infatuated with this story and a lot of people are pretty convinced there's some massive conspiracy
www.reddit.com
Reddit - Dive into anything
www.reddit.com
RatLabGuy
You look like a monkey and smell like one too
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Location
- Churchville, MD
to the point:
paradisePWoffrd
Recovering Project Junkie
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2005
- Location
- Newton, NC
here some info I saw from Jeff Jackson (NC Rep):
Over the last three days, Iāve been swamped with questions about the recent shoot-downs of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs).
I just had the opportunity to be part of a congressional briefing with Gen. VanHerck, the Commander of our North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Hereās what we were told:
(And yes, this is all unclassified as of yesterday.)
The Spy Balloon
Weāve already recovered a lot of the debris from what he referred to as āthe Chinese spy balloon,ā including propulsion equipment.
They expect to gain significant intelligence from the recovery.
The Three UAPs
After the incident with the spy balloon, a decision was made to start scrutinizing our air space more closely. Adjustments were made to how we process a lot of the data we collect about whatās flying overhead. The vast majority of this data was not being processed because of compartmentalization by the different agencies that collect it. Basically, itās being collected by different groups for different reasons and that meant the vast majority of the data wasnāt being processed because there was no single system that exists for the purpose of identifying these kinds of objects.
The three UAPs that have been shot down since then were all āfundamentally differentā from the spy balloon in that they were much smaller and they were flying much lower, between 20,000 and 30,000 feet. That put them within the altitude band for civilian air traffic, which was a factor in the decision to shoot them down. By contrast, the spy balloon was at an altitude of 60,000 feet.
However, each of the three UAPs were flying in proximity to a āDOD sensitive location.ā That was also a factor in shooting them down.
In the U.S., academic and commercial balloons have to include transponders that let the FAA know where they are at all times. These UAPs did not appear to have transponders, and that was also a factor in the decision to shoot them down.
Of the three UAPs, one was much larger than the other two. Its size and shape is consistent with a balloon. The other two were roughly the size of āan A.T.V. or a four-wheeler,ā making them extremely difficult to see. They had to be shot down in daylight because they were too difficult to see at night.
All three UAPs appeared to āmove in speed with the wind.ā
It was repeatedly mentioned that thereās no evidence at this point that any of these three UAPs were doing anything nefarious and each of them could turn out to be academic or commercial. We wonāt know until theyāre recovered.
Hereās whatās happening with the recovery efforts:
One UAP was shot down over Alaska. The debris is believed to be on an ice cap, which is moving, and the temperature is -50 degrees with the windchill.
A second UAP was shot down in Canada in some very tall, snowy mountains. Weāre assisting Canadians with trying to locate the debris.
A third UAP was shot down near the US/Canada border but is probably on the Canadian side.
There are no other UAPs being tracked at this time.
This episode has sparked a new effort to develop a set of strategies for detecting and eliminating UAPS - ideally without having to use extremely expensive missiles - and a better notification system for our governors and allies.
To my knowledge, that is the most specific information that is publicly available right now.
Best,
Rep. Jeff Jackson
Over the last three days, Iāve been swamped with questions about the recent shoot-downs of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs).
I just had the opportunity to be part of a congressional briefing with Gen. VanHerck, the Commander of our North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
Hereās what we were told:
(And yes, this is all unclassified as of yesterday.)
The Spy Balloon
Weāve already recovered a lot of the debris from what he referred to as āthe Chinese spy balloon,ā including propulsion equipment.
They expect to gain significant intelligence from the recovery.
The Three UAPs
After the incident with the spy balloon, a decision was made to start scrutinizing our air space more closely. Adjustments were made to how we process a lot of the data we collect about whatās flying overhead. The vast majority of this data was not being processed because of compartmentalization by the different agencies that collect it. Basically, itās being collected by different groups for different reasons and that meant the vast majority of the data wasnāt being processed because there was no single system that exists for the purpose of identifying these kinds of objects.
The three UAPs that have been shot down since then were all āfundamentally differentā from the spy balloon in that they were much smaller and they were flying much lower, between 20,000 and 30,000 feet. That put them within the altitude band for civilian air traffic, which was a factor in the decision to shoot them down. By contrast, the spy balloon was at an altitude of 60,000 feet.
However, each of the three UAPs were flying in proximity to a āDOD sensitive location.ā That was also a factor in shooting them down.
In the U.S., academic and commercial balloons have to include transponders that let the FAA know where they are at all times. These UAPs did not appear to have transponders, and that was also a factor in the decision to shoot them down.
Of the three UAPs, one was much larger than the other two. Its size and shape is consistent with a balloon. The other two were roughly the size of āan A.T.V. or a four-wheeler,ā making them extremely difficult to see. They had to be shot down in daylight because they were too difficult to see at night.
All three UAPs appeared to āmove in speed with the wind.ā
It was repeatedly mentioned that thereās no evidence at this point that any of these three UAPs were doing anything nefarious and each of them could turn out to be academic or commercial. We wonāt know until theyāre recovered.
Hereās whatās happening with the recovery efforts:
One UAP was shot down over Alaska. The debris is believed to be on an ice cap, which is moving, and the temperature is -50 degrees with the windchill.
A second UAP was shot down in Canada in some very tall, snowy mountains. Weāre assisting Canadians with trying to locate the debris.
A third UAP was shot down near the US/Canada border but is probably on the Canadian side.
There are no other UAPs being tracked at this time.
This episode has sparked a new effort to develop a set of strategies for detecting and eliminating UAPS - ideally without having to use extremely expensive missiles - and a better notification system for our governors and allies.
To my knowledge, that is the most specific information that is publicly available right now.
Best,
Rep. Jeff Jackson
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2005
- Location
- Stanley, NC
Sounds like we need a big Skynet to catch all the balloons!
RatLabGuy
You look like a monkey and smell like one too
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Location
- Churchville, MD
This seems pretty damn easy to know - if it was something innocent / innocuous you'd think the owner would come out and say, "Uh, yeah, that was mine."
It's pretty hard for me to imagine there's some MIT research team scratching their heads right now saying, "hey what happened to our thing that was right where the AF just shot something down?"
awheelterd
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Location
- Kenly, NC
I would imagine that the other balloons originated in other countries and their owners lost track of them some time ago.
RatLabGuy
You look like a monkey and smell like one too
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Location
- Churchville, MD
Maybe... but with all the hubbub, you'd still think there would be people coming forward and saying "Hey... uh... sorry but I think that might be ours... can we compare VIN numbers?"
Who knows. Maybe there's some guy at Helsinki University right now talking to his buddy. "So, ya know that thing we launched 4 years ago, and thought it crashed? Ya think there's any chance it showed up in the US and we just sparked an international crisis?"
CLRracer
Mopar Nut
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2005
- Location
- Archer Lodge
Hobby Clubās Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF | Aviation Week Network
Although the club is not pointing fingers, there are suspicions among other prominent members of the small, pico-ballooning enthusiasts community.
aviationweek.com
Duane
awheelterd
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Location
- Kenly, NC
I think we've all learned that when shtf and the north invades again, we should all raid the party balloon sections at Walmart. Hundreds of birthday balloons will be our first line of air defense. We should send some to Ukraine right away
RatLabGuy
You look like a monkey and smell like one too
- Joined
- May 18, 2005
- Location
- Churchville, MD
lets get ready for Balloon-gateHobby Clubās Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF | Aviation Week Network
Although the club is not pointing fingers, there are suspicions among other prominent members of the small, pico-ballooning enthusiasts community.
Duane
"ready, fire, aim!"
Blaze
The Jeeper Reaper
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2005
- Location
- Wake Forest, NC
I just came here to post this.Hobby Clubās Missing Balloon Feared Shot Down By USAF | Aviation Week Network
Although the club is not pointing fingers, there are suspicions among other prominent members of the small, pico-ballooning enthusiasts community.
Duane
Hilarious to think, if true, that we shot down a $10 balloon with a $400k missile. That's the equivalent of the jocks giving an atomic wedgie to the rocket club dorks in high school.
awheelterd
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Location
- Kenly, NC
Especially when a 5c .22lr round would have done the trick. If someone needed further proof that our government was inept, heres your sign...I just came here to post this.
Hilarious to think, if true, that we shot down a $10 balloon with a $400k missile. That's the equivalent of the jocks giving an atomic wedgie to the rocket club dorks in high school.
Blaze
The Jeeper Reaper
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2005
- Location
- Wake Forest, NC
Apparently at that height with the air pressure the way it is, doesn't work as easily as you'd think. There was a story I read about a Canadian balloon that got off course and they sent a fighter to shoot it down and I guess it fired a few holes through it and it didn't do anything. Everyone laughed until the US and Britain did the same thing and eventually it crashed in like Denmark or something.
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2005
- Location
- Stanley, NC
Holdup, where you gettin this 5 cent ammo!?!?!?!
awheelterd
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Location
- Kenly, NC
My closet from like 5 yrs agoHoldup, where you gettin this 5 cent ammo!?!?!?!
awheelterd
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2007
- Location
- Kenly, NC
Why the U.S. used missiles, not cheap bullets, to shoot down Chinese balloon, 3 unidentified objects
Why the U.S. used missiles, not cheap bullets, to shoot down Chinese balloon, 3 unidentified objects
My peon brain doesn't understand the physics. @RatLabGuy explain please